AROUND THE LEAGUE.

Ankle injury sidelines Griffey for season

July 18, 2003

Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. will miss the rest of the season after hurting his right ankle Thursday night, the latest in a string of injuries for the former All-Star.

The center fielder ruptured a tendon while running out a double in the sixth inning of a 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros. Griffey started limping shortly after rounding first base. He immediately was removed from the game.

Griffey, 33, will have surgery Friday at The Good Samaritan Hospital, the Reds said.

Injuries to both legs and his right shoulder caused Griffey to miss 140 games since the 2000 season, including 33 this year.

Ruth museum angry at Bonds

The Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore expressed disgust Thursday with comments made by San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds about Babe Ruth during the All-Star Game festivities in Chicago.

Bonds is 17 home runs shy of tying Willie Mays for third on the career list at 660. Only Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) have hit more.

On Monday, Bonds said: "Willie's number is always the one that I've strived for. And if it does happen, the only number I care about is Babe Ruth's. Because as a left-handed hitter, I wiped him out. . . . I got his slugging percentage and I'll take his home runs and that's it."

"To suggest that those feats are somehow capable of `wiping out' Ruth illustrates a complete disregard for the history and tradition of our national game, and its greatest player," said Michael L. Gibbons, museum executive director.

Bonds said Thursday he meant what he said as a compliment.

Silva's suspension cut

Phillies reliever Carlos Silva's suspension was reduced to five games. He originally was suspended six games for intentionally throwing at Reds outfielder Adam Dunn.

THURSDAY'S GAMES

RESULTS, SYNOPSIS

Arizona 9 at San Diego 1

W: Schilling (5-4)

L: Perez (3-4)

Former Padres star Steve Finley hit a three-run homer in the first inning to start the Diamondbacks' scoring barrage. Finley had three hits and Luis Gonzalez three runs.

Milwaukee 7 at Pittsburgh 5

W: Franklin (6-6)

L: Benson (5-9)

S: Estrella (2)

John Vander Wal's third grand slam this season helped open a 7-0 lead, and the Brewers overcame Craig Wilson's pinch-hit slam in the fifth. It was Wilson's ninth pinch home run, a club record.

Montreal 2 at Philadelphia 5

W: Plesac (2-0)

L: Drew (0-2)

Marlon Byrd's two-out, three-run homer in the 11th inning gave the Phillies their sixth victory in seven starts. Byrd went 4-for-5 and is 14-for-34 since assuming the leadoff spot.

Houston 5 at Cincinnati 4

W: Robertson (9-3)

L: Wilson (5-7)

S: Wagner (25)

Geoff Blum hit a two-run single that capped a five-run second inning for Houston. Rookie Jeriome Robertson won his fifth consecutive start despite allowing four runs in five innings.

N.Y. Mets 2 at Atlanta 3

W: Maddux (8-8)

L: Franco (0-2)

Mark DeRosa's bases-loaded check-swing infield single in the ninth won it. Greg Maddux pitched an eight-hitter for his first complete game of the season and just the team's second.

St. Louis 3 at Los Angeles 6

W: Nomo (10-8)

L: Stephenson (4-10)

S: Gagne (32)

Hideo Nomo gave up two hits and one earned run in six innings and added a two-run homer and an RBI double. Rickey Henderson went 1-for-4 and Jeromy Burnitz 0-for-4 in their Dodger debuts.

Colorado 4 at San Francisco 8

W: Moss (8-6)

L: Jennings (9-7)

Edgardo Alfonzo had three hits and drove in two runs. Damian Moss won for the first time in five starts. Colorado's Todd Helton went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.